Instrument seal

Abstract

A medical device may include a septum seal including a septum wall having portions defining a septum opening, and a plurality of flaps extending over the septum seal toward the septum opening, wherein the flaps define a flap opening that overlaps with the septum opening.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A medical device comprising:
 a septum seal including a septum wall, a septum opening defined in the septum wall, and a bellows portion having a plurality of corrugated walls extending around the septum wall;   a plurality of flaps coupled to the septum seal and extending over the septum wall toward the septum opening; and   a slit seal aligned with and distal to the septum seal,   wherein the plurality of flaps are arranged to define a flap opening proximal to and aligned with the septum opening,   wherein the slit seal includes a seal portion and a rim portion,   wherein each of the plurality of corrugated walls includes a proximally-distally extending portion and a laterally extending portion,   wherein the laterally extending portions of the plurality of corrugated walls are concentric with one another and the septum wall and are arranged at positions successively radially outward of the septum wall, and   wherein the slit seal directly contacts and seals against one or more of the laterally extending portions of the plurality of corrugated walls of the bellows portion of the septum seal.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the medical device further comprises a puck structure; and   the plurality of flaps and the septum seal are coupled to the puck structure.   
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the medical device further comprises a housing;   the housing includes an upper housing part and a lower housing part removably coupled to the upper housing part; and   the septum seal, the slit seal, the plurality of flaps, and the puck structure are between the upper housing part and the lower housing part.   
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the medical device further comprises a cap between the bellows portion and the upper housing part; and   the cap inhibits inflation of the bellows portion in response to a pressure change distal to the bellows portion.   
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the upper housing part includes a guide portion sized and shaped to guide an instrument toward the septum opening; and   the guide portion extends past the cap.   
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the upper housing part is in the shape of an oval; and   the upper housing part is configured to be squeezed on an elongated portion of the shape of the oval to release the upper housing part from the lower housing part.   
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the septum seal includes a second opening; and   the puck structure includes a first puck part, a second puck part, and a protrusion that extends through the second opening to couple the first puck part and the second puck part to one another and to the septum seal and the plurality of flaps.   
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the septum seal includes a rim portion surrounding the septum wall;   the bellows portion surrounds the rim portion; and   the second opening is in the rim portion of the septum seal.   
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the puck structure is sized and shaped to fit the rim portion of the septum seal.   
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the septum seal includes a reinforcement structure around the second opening.   
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the puck structure includes a lubrication channel extending from a top surface of the puck structure to a space between the plurality of flaps and the septum wall.   
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the puck structure includes a proximal puck part and a distal puck part; and   the lubrication channel includes a proximal opening in a proximal surface of the proximal puck part, a distal opening adjacent the space between the plurality of flaps and the septum wall, and a passageway in the proximal puck part connecting the proximal opening and the distal opening.   
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the bellows portion flexes as the puck structure, the plurality of flaps, and the septum opening move to accommodate movement of an instrument inserted through the flap opening and the septum opening.   
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the septum seal includes a retaining structure that engages the puck structure and restrains movement of the septum wall with respect to the puck structure.   
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the flap opening is in the shape of a polygon.   
     
     
         16 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of flaps includes a flange portion connected to a flap portion by a flexure portion;   the flange portion is coupled to the septum seal; and   the flexure portion is configured to flex distally on a condition that an instrument is inserted through the flap opening.   
     
     
         17 . The medical device of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the flap portion includes first and second side portions and a center portion; and   the first and second side portions are curved proximally relative to the center portion.   
     
     
         18 . A medical device comprising:
 a septum seal including a septum wall, a septum opening defined in the septum wall, and a bellows portion extending around the septum wall;   a plurality of flaps coupled to the septum seal and extending over the septum wall toward the septum opening; and   a slit seal aligned with and distal to the septum seal; and   a puck structure, wherein:   the plurality of flaps are arranged to define a flap opening proximal to and aligned with the septum opening,   the slit seal includes a seal portion and a rim portion;   the slit seal directly contacts and seals against the bellows portion of the septum seal;   the plurality of flaps and the septum seal are coupled to the puck structure;   the septum seal includes a second opening; and   the puck structure includes a first puck part, a second puck part, and a protrusion that extends through the second opening to couple the first puck part and the second puck part to one another and to the septum seal and the plurality of flaps.